At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a passionate kitchen team to create delicious, nutritious meals for residents.
- Company: Join Barchester, a caring and supportive environment focused on quality.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working days, bonuses, discounts, and access to medical specialists.
- Other info: Opportunities for continuous learning and career development through the Chef Academy.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in residents' lives through your culinary skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in leading teams and working with fresh, seasonal food.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Benefits
- Working days and alternate weekends only, across 4/5 days a week
- Rewarding Excellence bonus up to £500 for a good or outstanding CQC inspection
- Refer a Friend scheme, earning up to £500 per referral
- Discounts with major retail, leisure, supermarket and travel partners
- Free access to medical specialists and second opinions
- Confidential free access to counselling and legal services
- Tax code review service to ensure correct tax rate
- Monthly staff lottery option across the nation
Qualifications
- Hold City & Guilds, NVQ, SVQ or equivalent
- Experience leading, motivating and inspiring a team
- Experience working with fresh seasonal food and nutrition
- Ability to create a warm, welcoming environment within homes
- Confidence engaging with residents to create appetising, nutritious menus
- Experience supporting a front‑of‑house team to maintain high restaurant standards
- Good understanding of HACCP and COSHH
- Knowledge of modified diets using the IDDSI framework (training provided if new)
Responsibilities
- Lead, motivate and inspire the kitchen and front‑of‑house team; manage performance and develop staff
- Menu development tailored to residents, ensuring person‑centred hospitality and nutrition
- Work with fresh produce to deliver high‑quality, wholesome dishes to the highest standards
- Bake fresh cakes, scones and breads from scratch
- Assist front‑of‑house in setting up dining areas
- Work within budget; conduct regular audits and manage stock control
- Create a warm, efficient and enjoyable environment
- Oversee ongoing recruitment, retention and team development
- Deliver hotel/restaurant standards without split shifts or long hours
- Support the Barchester Chef Academy and share knowledge with others across the business
- Participate in year‑round learning and development initiatives, including apprenticeships and further qualifications
About the Role
As a Head Chef at Barchester, you will have full autonomy to create nutritious, flavoursome, and well‑balanced menus while owning the kitchen and ongoing team development. The role offers a balanced schedule, full autonomy, and opportunities for continuous learning through the Chef Academy and industry‑recognised training programmes.
Head Chef - Care Home in Stoke-on-Trent employer: Career Choices Dewis Gyrfa Ltd
Barchester is an exceptional employer that prioritises the well-being and development of its staff, offering a balanced work schedule with only 4/5 days a week and alternate weekends. Employees benefit from a rewarding excellence bonus, access to medical specialists, and a supportive work culture that encourages continuous learning through the Chef Academy. With a focus on creating a warm and welcoming environment for both residents and staff, Barchester provides a unique opportunity for meaningful employment in the care sector.
Contact Details:
Career Choices Dewis Gyrfa Ltd Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Chef - Care Home in Stoke-on-Trent
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the culinary world, especially those who have experience in care homes. They might know about openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you can, organise a tasting event or a demo where you can showcase your menu ideas and cooking techniques. This is a great way to impress potential employers and demonstrate your passion for fresh, seasonal food.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just apply; engage! When you find a job on our website, take the time to follow up with a call or an email. Express your enthusiasm for the role and ask any questions you might have about the kitchen culture or team dynamics.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare for the interview by thinking about how you can create a warm, welcoming environment for residents. Be ready to discuss your approach to menu development and how you can inspire your team to maintain high standards in the kitchen.
We think you need these skills to ace Head Chef - Care Home in Stoke-on-Trent
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food:When writing your application, let your love for cooking and fresh ingredients shine through. We want to see how you can create delicious, nutritious meals that residents will enjoy!
Highlight Your Leadership Skills:As a Head Chef, you'll be leading a team, so make sure to showcase your experience in motivating and inspiring others. Share examples of how you've developed staff and maintained high standards in the kitchen.
Tailor Your Application:Make your application personal! Refer to the job description and align your skills and experiences with what we're looking for. This shows us that you understand the role and are genuinely interested.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Career Choices Dewis Gyrfa Ltd
✨Know Your Menu Inside Out
Make sure you’re familiar with the types of dishes you’ll be expected to create. Research seasonal ingredients and think about how you can tailor menus to meet the nutritional needs of residents. Being able to discuss your ideas confidently will impress the interviewers.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you’ve led and motivated a team in the past. Think about specific situations where you inspired your team or improved performance. This role is all about creating a warm environment, so demonstrate your ability to engage and uplift those around you.
✨Understand the Importance of Nutrition
Brush up on your knowledge of nutrition and dietary requirements, especially if you’re not familiar with the IDDSI framework. Be ready to discuss how you would create appetising menus that cater to various dietary needs, showing that you care about the residents’ well-being.
✨Prepare Questions for Them
Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare thoughtful questions about the kitchen culture, team dynamics, and opportunities for development within the Chef Academy. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if it’s the right fit for you.
